Environmental Issues Instruction (eii)
A graduate level in-service program designed to prepare teachers to teach environmental issues to students K-14.
Meet the Team: eii Instructional Staff
Dr. Barb Ehlers
eii Director
Cathryn Carney
Associate Director
Dr. Paul Skrade
Instructor
- A process of teaching and learning
- Experiential teaching and learning
- A model of thematic instruction
- Teaching ecological concepts by integrating disciplines
- An analysis of issues
- Responsible environmental action
- Development of teacher/leaders
- Aligned with the Iowa Core Standards
- A great example of the Iowa Core’s Characteristics of Effective Instruction
- Inquiry based
Current Program Information - 2021-2022
Environmental Issues Instruction (eii) and Upper Iowa University presents:
Nourishing Our Water and Soil Through Sustainable Agriculture
This is an interdisciplinary, undergraduate or graduate level college credit course for all teachers PK-14 and other environmental educators.
Receive two college credits for a total cost of $275. This includes the college credit, food, lodging, and teaching materials. This is made possible by grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), Resources Enhancement and Protection-Conservation Education Program, (REAP-CEP), and Upper Iowa University.
FIRST WORKSHOP: The first workshop will be held on the Upper Iowa University campus in Fayette on June 22, 23, and 24, and the update session will be held November 12 and 13.
>>Please register for the workshop here.
There will be three more workshops at locations throughout Iowa. Check back for locations and dates.
Issue: Should water and soil quality be considered when making decisions regarding land usage?
The Eii model utilizes:
- Next Generation Science Standards
- STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Project-Based Teaching and Learning
- Framework for K-12 Science Cross-Cutting Concepts
- Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning
- Iowa Core Characteristics of Effective Instruction
- Differentiated Instruction
- The Learning Cycle/5E’s
Thematic Integration of:
- Environmental Education
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Reading
- Social Studies
- Language Arts
- Fine Arts
- Physical Education
Course: EDU 461/561: Environmental Issues Instruction: Nourishing Our Water and Soil Through Sustainable Agriculture
Two hours of undergraduate or graduate credit from Upper Iowa University
Course Expectations:
- Attend two sessions-initial and update:
- Modeling of instructional levels
- Sharing the teaching experience
- Develop and teach unit between initial and update sessions
- Give evidence of student action
- Administer student assessment (pre-post)
- Prepare written report of experience
Instructional Model:
- I – Issue Analysis
- II – Ecological Foundations
- III – Energy Issues
- IV – Responsible Environmental Action
Instructional Support:
- Resource materials for integrating disciplines
- Provide consultation and materials for action projects
- E-mail and telephone contacts
Institutional Support:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- REAP-CEP (Resource Enhancement and Protection-Conservation Education Program)
- Upper Iowa University-Andres School of Education
- Iowa State University Extension Education
- Iowa Farm Bureau
- Izaak Walton League
Supported by grant funding from:
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP)
- Upper Iowa University.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Barbara Ehlers
Associate Professor of Education (2010)
[email protected]
(563) 425-5322
B.A., Wartburg College
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Ed. D., University of Northern Iowa
2018-2020
- Water Connects Us All
2016-17
- Food, Farming, and Climate Change
2015-16
- Soil: The Earth Beneath Our Feet
2014-15
- Energy Systems of the Prairie
2013-14
- Preserving and Protecting Our Water Resources
2012-13
- Wildlife of Prairie Roadsides
2011-12
- Rain, Runoff, and Rivers: Understanding Watersheds
Prior Years
- Tropical Rain Forest
- Global Climate Change
- Polar Issues
- Solid Waste Management
- Feeding the World
- Ecological Foundations Enhancement
- Preserving Biodiversity: Endangered Species
- Valuing Our Wetlands
- Urban Wetlands
- Exploring Climate Change
- Climate Change: Weather, Climate, and Me
- Feeding the World in a Changing Climate (REDI)
- Species Loss in a Changing Climate (TEDI)
- Biomes in a Changing Climate (TEDI+)
- Forests in a Changing Climate (TEDI III)
- Iowa’s Tropical Birds
- Iowa’s Roadside Prairies
- Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Savanna
- Iowa’s Roadside Native Communities: Wet Prairies
- Investigating Iowa Prairies
Coming soon!
eii is:
- A process of teaching and learning
- Experiential teaching and learning
- A model of thematic instruction
- Teaching ecological concepts by integrating disciplines
- An analysis of issues
- Responsible environmental action
- Development of teacher/leaders
- Aligned with the Iowa Core Essential Skills and Concepts
- A great example of the Iowa Core’s Characteristics of Effective Instruction
- Inquiry based
eii Teaching Model
Instructional Model:
- I – Issue Analysis
- II – Ecological Foundations
- III – Energy Issues
- IV – Responsible Environmental Action
Instructional Support:
- Resource materials for integrating disciplines
- Provide consultation and materials for action projects
- E-mail and telephone contacts
Institutional Support:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- REAP-CEP (Resource Enhancement and Protection-Conservation Education Program)
- Upper Iowa University-Andres School of Education
Photo Gallery
Meet the Team: eii Instructional Staff
Dr. Barb Ehlers, eii director
Associate Professor of Education
Upper Iowa University
[email protected]
563-425-5322
Jeff Monteith, Associate Director
K-12 Extended Learning Program Teacher
New Hampton Schools
New Hampton, Iowa
Cathryn Carney, Associate Director
Former High School Science Teacher
Graduate Student, University of Iowa
Science Education
Dr. Kata McCarville, Associate Director
Professor of Geosciences
Upper Iowa University